NASA Astronauts Speak with Challenger Center Conference from Space Station

Students, members of the public and attendees at the Challenger Center’s International Conference will speak with Expedition 44 crew members aboard the International Space Station at 9 a.m. EDT Thursday, Aug. 13.

The 20-minute Earth-to-space call will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency's website.

Media interested in covering the event must contact Lisa Vernal at 412- 337-3880 or lvernal@challenger.org. The event will be held in the McAllister Auditorium at San Antonio College located at 1300 San Pedro Ave. in San Antonio. The time of the call is subject to change depending on real-time operations.

Students will have the opportunity to speak live with NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Scott Kelly. Lindgren arrived on July 23 for his first six-month mission aboard the space station. Kelly is four months into a yearlong mission. During the mission, Lindgren, Kelly and other crew members will conduct more than 250 science investigations in fields, such as biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences, and technology development.

Attendees also will hear from current and former NASA astronauts, including Kent Rominger, Joe Acaba and Scott Kelly’s brother, Mark, along with Dr. Graham Scott, chief scientist for the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI).

This in-flight education downlink is an integral component of the NASA Education Office to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teaching and learning in the United States. Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides them with an authentic, live experience of space exploration, space study and the scientific components of space travel and possibilities of life in space.